A whole slew of new user fees and taxes on top of taxes are about to go into effect as of Jan. 1, and are expected to rake in about $2 million extra for Toronto's city coffers.

Many Torontonians are still reeling from the last round of fees, but the city is trying to plug a $500 million budget hole and once again is turning to taxpayers.

The new charges include:

  • Anyone setting up a new tax account will be charged a $50 administration fee
  • If the city has to add any charges to your tax roll or if you request a tax calculation statement, those fees are jumping from $35 to $50.
  • If you need a copy of a previous year's tax receipt, the $5 fee is more than tripled, to $16.
  • The convenience fee for paying a parking ticket over the phone or Internet will rise from $1.50 to $2.

However, that extra parking ticket payment charge will be phased out over the next three years and councillors are planning to bury it in the cost of the ticket itself.

Councillor Doug Holyday tried to put the brakes on some of the new charges and increases. He says he'd rather see councillors control their spending. But his motion failed by a vote of 17-15.

With a report by Alicia Markson